Candon City Philippines

BRIEF HISTORY OF CANDON, ILOCOS SUR

Creation of the Municipality

The municipality was created in 1780 upon the installation of the first civil government under the Cabeza de Barangay, Don Juan P. Madarang by his eminence D. Mariano de Conquera, an Agustinian Friar.
Like other towns, Candon has its own bit of history and foremost among them is the Candon Uprising popularly known as the “IKKIS TI CANDON”, as a response to the institutionalized abuses and oppressions perpetrated by the Spaniards.

The failure of the “Cry of Pugad Lawin” and “Pact of Biak-na-Bato” prompted Don Isabelo Abaya to organize a revolutionary group on preparation for the renewal of hostilities.

However, the premature discovery of the plot forced the revolutionaries to act swiftly and so on that fateful day of March 25, 1898, the revolutionaries declared war, attacked the Spaniards and established a revolutionary government in Candon.

The Spaniards upon learning that the revolutionaries were busy conquering more towns, sent shock troops (CAZADORES) to re-occupy Candon which was left unguarded to the numerically superior and well armed Spanish soldiers. Most of the leaders and participants of the uprising who surrendered and were arrested and were summarily executed.

During the Japanese occupation, the gallant exploit of Candonino V. Gaerlan manifests the bravery and patriotism of the Candonians. In 1942, with a handful followers, he staged an ambuscade and subsequently destroyed the Alambique steel bridge to harass the advancement of the enemies. Several truckloads of Japanese forces and supplies perished along the national highway. In retaliation however, the remnants of the Japanese soldiers razed the town proper in January 1942, which is considered the greatest conflagration that ever happened in the history of Canon. Also, in the Gabaldon School were atrocities committed by the Imperial Forces lasted until November 1944.

Background of the Municipality

The Municipality of Candon plays a vital role in the development of Ilocos Sur. Its geographical setting and proximity to the national highway and other towns encourages mobility in terms of trade, economic, social and cultural activities.

Candon being the center of commerce is also termed by the Department of Trade and Industry as the “ Bagsakan Center” in Ilocos Sur particularly in the Second District of this province contributed by the activity especially of the bigger traders bringing in their trades for marketing to the consumers not only from Candon but also going out to other towns neighboring Candon.

Also being called as the center of commerce, is due to the fact that many towns, if not only the adjacent towns, but also other, come to Candon for commercial activities. Candon caters to the commercial needs of the towns of Sta. Cruz, Santiago, Banayoyo, Galimuyod, salcedo, Del Pilar, Sta. Cruz, San Esteban, Liblibda, San Emilio and as far as some towns from the province of Abra with an estimated combined population of 100,000 served. The town can boast of a supermarket and a shopping mall, banking and lending institutions, recreational facilities, tourism facilities, health and medical establishment which caters to the basic needs and demands of the locality and the neighboring towns.

It is ardently hoped that with the innovation and survival instincts of the Candonians, the municipality shall continue to be a provider of goods and services to the whole province.

LOCAL HISTORY OF CANDON

Etymology

This place came to be called “CANDON” in a fanciful tale through the generations of a big tree, which the natives called “KANDONG” and about which life and beauty of the village centered.

This village, so the legend runs, was ruled by the three local chieftains: ABAY-A, MADALANG and KALINIO. Madalang chose as his abode the shade of this gargantuan tree together with his only daughter, the beautiful Ineng, Abay-a and Kalinio for their part lived with their tribes in caves somewhere in Kadanglaan and Kauplasan respectively.

“I am growing fasot old, Ineng”, Madalang said to his daughter. “One day I wish to see you married before Kabunyan calls me to the great beyond. But my child, I would only want a son-in-law who could defeat me in “Gabbu” (wrestling). What do you say Ineng?” And Ineng could only answer sobbing, “I submit to your wishes, dear father”.

And so one day, after the “Kaniaw” was over, the sound of gongs, cymbals and gangza intermingled and reverberated far and wide. Subsequently, the ruling junta composed of elders issued the announcement regarding the wrestling competition.

It was Abay-a who first took the challenge. At the sound of the cymbal, the protagonist, like a wild beast fought savagely. By some freak stings of fate, Abay-a in his unguarded moment unfortunately stumbled over a root of a Kandong tree and lost his balanace. Madalang savagely took advantage of the situation and mercilessly sent Abay-a reeling to the ground with several broken ribs. That was the end of the bout.

Three weeks passed, and this time, Kalinio who is reputed to possess the same human power took up the challenge. Just then, a crow going for its mate carelessly flew overhead as if to augur the impending disaster that would follow. Moments later, the fight began and both protagonist stood their grounds and each manifested signs of being victorious.

Madalang who is reputed to as the most super human among the strongest, tried his old ruse to send Kalinio off balance but was outwitted by his elusive foe. And fate didn’t destine Madalang to defeat Kalinio, so Ineng was married to victorious Kalinio. Just as the celebration is going on the Spanish conquistadors, who were on their way to colonize Northern Luzon, passed by and attacked the merrymakers. Some offered futile resistance, others fled in confusion and fear and those who were taken by surprise and yielded to the onslaught of the invading forces.

Subsequently, the friars assigned in this village ordered the cutting of the Kandong Tree and its place was planted the first cross of evangelization. The timbers taken from the tree was used in the construction of the first Roman Catholic Church in the 6th century.

Beliefs and traditions have it when the colonizers set foot upon this place and inquired as to its name, the natives answered, “KANDONG”, referred to the tree. Since that time on, the place came to be called CANDON.

Local Events in Retrospect

The cemetery yard in the Catholic Church located south of the Poblacion area was constructed 1797. Famine occurred in 1881 to 1882. A swarm of locusts never known in the history of Candon plagued the place in 18. The great cholera epidemic that immensely depopulated the town took place in the year 1902. The cogon roofing of the church tower was burned in 1750.

CandonCity.gov.ph